This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

1 John 3:16

I have been exploring the word John uses, again and again, like other New Testament writers, LOVE!  As a follower of Jesus, I am pondering the meaning of this word, love, or the love of God.

I am finding that it is at the very core of how I relate to God and to other people.  That I know.  But what does that mean?

I suppose that is how the people who read John’s letter thought as well.  So, John, bless his heart, laid it out as clear as crystal, love is illustrated by Jesus who laid down his life for us.  That is the heart of the matter.  It is a laying down of something precious in order to align our whole being with the will and purpose of God, no matter what.  Divine love is not simply an emotion that I carry in my head or heart, it is a way of life, a determination to follow Jesus, to live like he lived, and died.

This love requires a laying down of something I cling to.  As I lay it down, Jesus raises me to life and I follow Him with assurance.

But, as I read the latter part of our verse for the day, I see another dimension, one that really cuts deep, we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  Really?  John begins with how Jesus loves us and concludes with the hard part, that we lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter who they might be.  I can think of no more difficult thing to do!  I like to be loved, I find it difficult to love others like that!

It seems like every assertion of holiness in the Bible finds me short!